Protesters commemorate ‘Friday of Rage’

Protesters commemorated the two-year anniversary of the “Friday of Rage” by holding funeral prayers on Qasr Al-Nile Bridge at noon on Monday.

The prayers were followed by marches from Al-Sayeda Zeinab Mosque, Omar Makram Mosque In Tahrir and Al-Istiqama Mosque in Giza in the afternoon. All three marches were set to converge outside the upper house of parliament.

Around 15 political groups and parties on Sunday announced their participation in the Sayeda Zeinab march.

On Sunday night, Hosam Fouda from the Free Egyptians Party said the protesters would hold a sit-in outside the upper house “to prevent it from convening because it is an illegitimate council.”

Hazme Helal form the same party said: “We hope to hold a sit-in inside the Shura Council. This is our peaceful right.”

The houses of parliament are on Qasr Al-Eini Street off Tahrir Square.

Helal added that the Free Egyptians Party had maintained an occupation of the square since Friday and if prevented from gathering on Qasr Al-Eini Street, the protesters would remain in Tahrir.

Members from other participating groups were not as intent on occupying the upper house of parliament.

Aly Assem from Al-Dostour Party who organised the Sayeda Zeinab march said a decision on whether to camp out will be made “depending on the situation… we will decide over there.”

Amir Boshra from the Maspero Youth Coalition said: “We do not decide from now. This always comes back to the circumstances of the march….”

From the Youth for Justice and Freedom, Khaled Sayed said: “If we manage to reach the reach the Shura Council. We have been trying to reach it for three days and we have not managed to do that.”

On Saturday night, an attempt to march to the Shura Council, the upper house of parliament and the country’s current legislature, was intercepted by security.